Top Maoist Leader Ganesh Uike, 5 Others Killed in Odisha Gunfights

• Top Maoist leader Ganesh Uike and five others were killed in gun battles with security forces in Odisha’s Kandhamal district.
• Uike, a CPI(Maoist) central committee member, carried a ₹1.1 crore bounty and was the banned outfit's chief in Odisha.
• Two Maoists from Chhattisgarh were killed Wednesday night, followed by Uike and three others (including two women) on Thursday morning.
• The joint operation involved Odisha Police's SOG, CRPF, and BSF, leading to the seizure of two INSAS rifles and a .303 rifle.
• Police hailed it as a major success, breaking the Maoists' backbone in the state, following 22 surrenders earlier.

Why It Matters: Major blow to Maoists as top leader Ganesh Uike and 5 others killed in Odisha operations.